Trip Overview
Dates: 15-24 November, 2023
Cost: $2,300 per person (not including international flight)
*Price based on double occupancy. Single supplement rates are available in certain accommodations.
Included:
Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau, Sabah
All Meals
Accommodations
Transportation
Excursions
Naturalist Guides
Not included: Flights to Kuala Lumpur, Snacks, Alcoholic Beverages, Travel Insurance
Overview:
Experience the vibrant city and cultures of Kuala Lumpur through visiting its cultural sites and delicious food. From the city, we will venture to Sabah, where we will fully immerse into the jungles and islands to experience the natural beauty Borneo has to offer.
*Our kids will be with us on this adventure, however we will have childcare when needed to allow us to be fully present during the duration of the trip. Aside from our kids, this will be an adults-only trip on an invite basis.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day One: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur
We will meet you at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and our goal for the day is to simple rest and recover after long flights.
This will also be the time to get cash (Malaysian Ringgit) you may need for your trip and perhaps get your first taste of Malaysian food. Since everyone will be arriving at different times, we will personally escort you to our hotel where you can get settled in. For those present, we will have a casual dinner together at the hotel. If you did not cross any time zones, feel free to spend time in the city at your own leisure. You can hop a 40 minute train ride to KL Sentral from the airport or take an Uber/Grab to wherever you wish to go.
Day Two: Food Tour / Sightseeing
The fight against jet lag continues as we wake up early to visit Batu Caves. Followed by a sightseeing and food tour in Kuala Lumpur. You will get to taste food from the three major cultures of Malaysia (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) and visit the Petronas Twin Towers, once the tallest buildings in the world. We will pack our activities in the front end of the day so that crashing early is possible for those who need it, & the rest of us may head out to a night market!
Day Three: Journey to Tawau
We will head back to the airport to board our 2.5 hour flight to Tawau, the gateway to our adventure in Sabah. Upon arrival, we will check in into our hotel and enjoy a family style dinner at a local restaurant that specializes in local seafood and Chinese cuisine.
Day Four: Into the Jungle
After a hearty dim sum and noodle breakfast, we will begin our journey deep into the heart of Borneo to our lodge along the mighty Kinabatangan River. At sunset, we will cruise along the river to look for local species such as hornbills, proboscis monkeys, and much more. Elephant and Orangutan sightings are rare, but always a possibility! For more adventure, you can join in on the night walk in the jungle after dinner to spot wildlife you won’t see during the day such as civets, badgers, tarsiers, slow loris, and pangolins.
Day Five: Kinabatangan
We wake up before the sun rises for our morning river cruise. This day will be slow day as we embrace the slow pace of living along the river. You can choose to participate in local crafts (batik painting / beads embroidery), nature briefings with the guides, high tea with local snacks, or just plain relaxing. As the sun sets, we board our boats once again to cruise down the river. Our guides will always aim to diversify the species we see by choosing alternative routes and we’ll have ample time to observe their behaviors and practice our wildlife photography.
Day Six: Kapalai
We leave the jungles for the exciting coast of Semporna, our doorway to the exotic islands of Sabah. We will board our speedboats for a quick 45 minute journey to our resort where we will spend the next two nights surrounded by the clear, blue waters and rich abundance of wildlife. It will be quite the journey to get from the jungles to our resort, so feel free to take a lazy afternoon in your over water bungalow, or take an easy snorkeling session by the dive center. All meals at the resort will be buffet style with a variety of local cuisine and seafood.
Day Seven: Bohey Dulang
Get ready for our last day of adventure as we hop between islands to hike, snorkel, and enjoy a full day exploring this beautiful part of the world. We will have a picnic lunch provided by the resort on a remote island followed by more snorkeling before we head back to our resort for dinner.
Day Eight & Nine: Back to Tawau & Kuala Lumpur
We begin our journey back to Tawau where we will enjoy a “Yam Cha” afternoon (Tea and Pastries) followed by our extravagant final dinner together as a group where we hope by now, we will have lots of memories and stories to laugh about. We will board the plane back to Kuala Lumpur with you and bid our goodbyes depending on your departure time/date. The tour will officially end when we arrive in KL.
What to Pack?
Weather
Malaysia’s weather is typically characterized as tropical, hot, and humid throughout the year. The country experiences an equatorial climate, which means that it is generally hot and humid with high levels of rainfall.
The temperature in Malaysia generally ranges from 21°C to 32°C (70°F to 90°F), with high levels of humidity that can make the weather feel even hotter. Overall, Malaysia’s weather is hot, humid, and rainy throughout the year, making it important to pack lightweight and breathable clothing when traveling to the country.
Recommended Items
While we recommend bringing the following items, you can also easily purchase these items in country at a local pharmacy/store.
Breathable, Lightweight Clothing, Sunscreen, Mosquito Repellant, Flip Flops, Swimwear, Comfortable Walking Shoes, Sunglasses, and Adapters (Malaysia uses a 240V electrical system with three-pronged plugs, so make sure to pack an adapter and converter if necessary.)
Luggage
When it comes to luggage, we recommend a backpack and a carry-on sized bag. Mobility is key with the amount of traveling we will be doing and types of transport (Planes, Trains, Taxis, Boats, Vans, Speedboats, etc).
Passports and Visas
Foreign visitors generally need a valid passport and a visa to enter Malaysia, depending on their nationality. Additionally, certain immunizations may be required or recommended depending on the traveler’s origin country and intended activities in Malaysia.
Passport Requirements: Visitors to Malaysia are required to have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay in the country.
Visa Requirements: If you are a US citizen or a US permanent resident, you do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Malaysia.
Immunization Requirements: There are currently no mandatory immunizations required for entry into Malaysia. In terms of immunizations, there are currently no mandatory immunizations required for entry into Malaysia for travelers arriving from the United States. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travelers to Malaysia consider getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and rabies, depending on their activities and travel plans.
I’m in, now what?
It’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider or travel medicine specialist before traveling to Malaysia or any international destination to get personalized advice on any necessary vaccinations or precautions based on your individual health status and travel itinerary.
Registration will open March 15. To secure your spot, a $300 deposit is required. There are only 10-12 spots open for the trip, so secure your spot as soon as possible!
Deadline 1: $1,000 by June 1st, 2023
Deadline 2: $1,000 by September 1, 2023